Will take very serious view of absence of ministers: Karnataka's Speaker

The absence of several ministers in the Karnataka assembly for the second time in three days drew the ire of the Speaker Ramesh Kumar today, who warned that he would take a 'very serious' view of it.

Many Ministers of the Congress-JD(S) government were absent as the Speaker asked them one after the other to lay the papers listed against their name on the table of the House.

Noticing Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda laying papers on behalf of the ministers,Kumarsought to know about their whereabouts and said 'it is not fair' on their part to be absent.

Gowda submittedhe would send word to those Ministers.

The Speaker then asked the ruling coalition's chiefwhip Ganesh Hukkeri to look into it.

"Today according to the list of business theyhad to be present in the House. The agenda was also sent to them. It is their responsibility to lay the papers. I cannot worklike this... I'm sorry," Kumar said.

Stating that he was allowing it to happen for one last time, he said "from the next time if Ministers required to be present in the House to present their papers are absent without my permission, I will take avery serious view of it."

Pointing out that only a couple of ministers had taken his permission, he further asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister to advise the Ministers.

On Wednesday, the Speaker had taken strong exception to the absence of several ministers in the House, saying its proceedings cannot be taken "lightly."